Multiple passage flexible hose and coupling therefor



J. A. BEDE MULTIPLE PASSAGE FLEXIBLE HOSE AND COUPLING THEREFOR Filed sept. 9, 195o ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STAT-ss rATsNT OFFICE MLTIPLE PASSAGE FLEXIBLE. HOSE `AND COUPLING THEREFOR.'

James A. Bede, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 9, 1950, Serial No. 184,096

l The present invention relates generally as indicated to a multiple passage ilexible hose and couplings therefor and more particularly to the novel combination of such hose and couplings having particular utility in the, art of spray painting.

At the present time in spray painting processes, it' has been found advantageous to spray the coating composition while in heated condition and Sometimes to employ heated air for eiecting a.

better atomization ofthe coating composition and f oifsetting vthe natural refrigeration action due to of hot spraying are outlined inr 'my =Patents, y, v2,481,813 and 2,576,558, dated September 13, 1949, l and November 27, 1951, respectively.

`In such hot spraying processes wherein the heated coating composition isl yconstantly circulated to prevent settling 'of the pigment and other ingredients in the composition and to prevent clogging of the hoses, it has been necessary to connect to the spray gun a relatively large and heavy tting to which two separate flexiblerhoses are connected, one hose leading to the fitting from the discharge side of a coating composition heater and the other hose leading from the fitting to the intake side of a pump or like circulating device which has its discharge side connected to such heater. In addition to said two hoses through which the coating composition is circulated as aforesaid, there is connected to the spray gun a third hose which leads from an air pressure supply line to the gun, such air under pressure being operative to atomize the coating compositionV Which is supplied under pressure to the gun. Therefore, with such apparatus the operator, when using the gun must net only handle the weight of the gun, but in addition must handle again as much weight and often more due to thel Weight of such relatively large andheavy fitting at the gun, and thetwo hoses lwhich are lled with coating composition and also connected to the gun at such tting.,

Accordingly, it is one principai object of thisY` oiaims. (C1. 13s- 87) invention to reduce the extra weight lwhich must be handled by the operator to a minimum by providing a novel flexible hose and coupling eembination which eliminates the aforesaid bulky fitting at the gunand eliminates the separate hoses lfor the supply and return of the coating material to the gun and to the supply source,

respectively. f y

Another object of this` invention is to provide a n-ovel hose and coupling combination which combines the two coating composition hoses now employed and the air hose also now employed into a single light-weight h ose construction while yet retaining the feature of recirculation of the coating composition.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described Nand particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed `drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments 'of the invention, these being indicative, however, Vof but a few lof the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed- In said annexed drawings: Y

Fig. v1 is a side elevation view of a typical spray gun having connected thereto three separate hoses, one for the atomizing air and the other two for circulation of heating coating composition between the gun and a supply source;

Fig. 2 is a cross section view of one form of flexible hose and coupling combination constituting the present invention;

Fig. 2a is a transverse cross sectionview along line 2a-2a, Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section View taken substantially along the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View of a typical circuit employing the hose and coupling combination shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross section view similar to Fig. 2 except illustrating a modification in which the exible hose is formed with three passages, one for air and the other tWo for circulation of coating composition; and y Fig. 5a is a transverse cross section view along line Bia-5a, Fig. 5. y Y

Referring kfirst to Fig. l, there is shown therein the conventional hook-up of a spray gun I kfer hot spraying, said gun having an air hose 2 connected thereto from an air pressure supply line, a relativelylarge and bulky fitting '3, connected to the gun and comprising tubular portions 4 which merge together at the gun, and two separate hose couplings connected to the respective tubular portions 4. The hose couplings 5 serve to connect the two separate hoses and 'I to the gun, and the other ends of said hoses being provided with similar couplings connected respectively to the discharge and inlet sides of a coating compositi-on supply source. As previously mentioned, said tting 3 is relatively heavy, weighing at least one-half pound, the hose couplings 5 add another few ounces and, of course, several feet-'of the hose 5 and I lled with coating composition add several pounds weight to the assembly which the operator must handle during spraying and which becomes quite fatiguing as compared with handlingr the gun alone without such added weight. Y

In order to eliminate most or such additional weight and in order to reduce the heat loss, it is proposed herein to employ a unitary multiple passage hose I as shown in Fig. 2 extruded or otherwise formed from nexible plastic or rubber-like material. Said hose IU has a partition II diametrically therethrough and extending lengthwise or the hose to form two passages l2 and I4 through the hose, each of generally semicircular cross section. The partition lI at the end of the hose I0 which is adapted to be con'- nected to the spray gun, is cut away as shown whereby to leave a plain tubular extension i5 to which any conventional hose coupling may be connected. The particular coupling illustrated as being connected to the upper end of the flexible hose I D comprises a tubular nipple IE ex tending into the end I5 of the hose, a body Il forming an annular recess with said nipple for receiving the hose end, a split ring i8 surrounding the hose end and nipple i6, and a nut i9 having threaded engagement with said body il to cause radial contraction of said split ring iii interposed between cam faces onfsaid nut it and formed as on the'externally threaded boss or the like on the spray gun I and onto which boss said swivel nut 23 is adapted to be screwed. This is a familiar form of hose coupling and, obviously, any other form of hose coupling may be employed with the hose end either detachably or permanently secured to the coupling. In fact, said coupling may be of the type used on ordinary garden hose if desired.

In any event, the hose coupling merely serves to connect the hose to the spray gun and to provide a passage therethrough for the flow of coating composition through the hose passage I2, through the coupling into the Vspray gun I It is to be noted that because the partition I I does not in any way close communication between the passages I2 and i4 at this end of the hose i@ the coating composition may flow from the hose passage I2-into the hose passage I4 as shown by the arrows 24 in Fig. 2, and inthis way there is provided the necessary constant circulation of the coating composition from the supply source to the gun and from the gun to the supply source to prevent settling of the pigment and other ingredients therein and to thus prevent clogging of the flexible hose.

The other end of the flexible hose I!) is connected directly to a hose coupling body again as 4 by means of the nut I9 which causes radial contraction of the split ring I 8 engaged between said nut and a coupling body 25. In this case, the coupling body 25 is formed with two separate nipples 26 and 2 each of a cross section complementary with the cross section of the respec tive hose passages I2 and I4. Said body 2e is formed with suitable ports 28 and 29 including passages 30 and 3| leading to the respective nipples 25 and 21, said ports being threaded for connection with suitable mating coupling parts, as for example nut 23 with seat 2I engaging the seat 32 in the end of each port. Thus, said body 25 may be connected either directly or through the intermediary of exible hoses to the dism charge and intake sides of the coating composi tion supply source. The particular ports 28 and 2t illustrated comprise threaded nipples which are formed with concave seats 32 adapted `for sealed engagement with a coupling seat 2l such as shown at the top of Fig. 2 and, of course, threaded onto the nipples are the swivel nuts 23 or vthe like which clamp together the seating portions 2| and 32.

It is to be understood that the flexible hose i@ may be provided with a braided sleeve or the like therearound if desired or said hose may be fabricated in the manner of a garden hose with a fabric liner between the inside and outside walls of the hose and also through the partition il if found necessary. Y

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the hose and coupling combination just described comprises a length of multiple passage flexible hose i0, a standard light-weight and simple hose coupling at one end providing the necessary recirculation feature by appropriate formation of said hose I0 anda unique multiple nipple and multiple passage coupling body 25 at the other end adapted to be respectively connected to the discharge and inlet sides of a coatingcomposition supply source. This simple flexible hose It is not materially heavier than one of the two hoses 6 and 'I in the Fig. 1 combination and the exposed heat radiating surface of the present multiple passage hose I0 is considerably less than that of the two hoses 6 and 'I illustrated in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 4, the coupling body 25 has 50" the port 28 attached to the discharge side of a heat exchange unit 34 and a exible hose 35 is connected from the other port 29 of said body 25 to the intake side of a pump P which is mounted on said heat exchange unit 34 with its discharge port connected to the inlet side of said heat exchange unit. Also connected on the intake side of said pump P is a hose 3E which leads from a can 31 containing unheated coating composition. The other end of the hose It and coupling combination is, of course, connected directly to the spray gun I at the point 38 thereby eliminating the heavy fitting 3.

In order to further simplify and lighten the weight which the operator of the gun must handle in spraying, there is shown in Fig. 5, a three-passage flexible hose 40 having three partitions 4I 42, and 43 with one of the three partitions, viz., partition 4I being cut and the coupling body 45 being provided with two nipples 45 and 41 complementary with the two passages 48--49 and 50 which remain at such hose end after cutting of the partition 4I as aforesaid. Thus, the coating composition flows through pas sage 48 of the hose and through the nipple into the spray gun I and also from such one passage 48 around the end of the cut partition 4I message and through the passage 49 :back to theintalce side of the coating composition supply source as indicated by the arrow l. The' third'passage I5l! is for the iiow of airfrom an air pressure supply line, through nipple 41 to the spray gun I. The three-passage flexible hoseshown in Fig. 5 replaces the three separate hoses '2, 6 and 1 which are required in Fig. l. Y

The :other end of the three passage exible hose 40 extends :into athree-nipple ftting'body 52, each nipple being complementary `with one of the hose passages 48, 49 and 50 and said body is formed with three ports 53, '54, and 5:5 'respectively, having a passage therethrough leading to one o f such nipples. One of said ports 5,3, 54 4or 55 is connected with the .discharge side of the coating composition supply source and communicates wi-th the nipple in passage 48; the second port is connected to the intalie side of the `source and communicates with the nipple in passage 49 and the third one is connected to an air pressure supply line and communicates with the nipple in passage 50. If the air passing through the passage 50 in hose 40 is not preheated, it will be heated during its flow through the hose by iiowing in contact with the two partitions 42 and 43 which transmit heat from the heated coating composition flowing therealong in the passages 48 and 49 and, of course if the air is preheated, the two partitions 42 and 43 which are heated by the coating composition will minimize the heat transfer and the only loss of heat will be from the 4small surface area of the hose 40 and even such slight heat loss through the outside wall of hose 40 may be reduced to a minimum by providing an insulating covering therearound.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinotly claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a flexible hose formed with partition means dividing said hose into at least two longitudinally extending passages, at least a portion of such partition means terminating short of one end of said hose, and a coupling connected to each end of said hose, the coupling at such one end of said hose being formed with a tubular nipple of cross-section complementary with that of the end of said hose beyond the terminating portion of such partition means and extending into such one end,'and the coupling at 'the other end of said hose being formed with a plurality of tubular nipples of cross-section complementary with those of the respective passages and inserted into such other end of said hose,

2. In combination, a flexible hose of circular cross-section formed with a diametral partition dividing said hose into two longitudinally extend ing passages each of generally semi-circular cross-section, such partition terminating short of one end of said hose, and a coupling connected to each end of said hose, the coupling at such one end of said hose being formed with a tubular nipple of circular cross-section inserted into such one end of said hose, and the coupling at the other end of said hose being formed with two'tubular nipples, each of generally semi-circular cross-section, and inserted into the respective passages of said hose to engage the inner wall of said hose and to embrace opposite sides of such partition.

3. In combination, a iiexible hose of circular vcmss--sectmn rmea with three radin. partitions dividing vsaid hose into three' longitudinally v'extending passagedeach of generally segmental cross-section, one of such partitions terminating snort of one end -of said hose, and a coupling .connected to each end of said hose, the coupling .at such one 4end of said hose being `formed with two tubular nipples each of cross-section complementary with the respective passages defined by the two partit-ions -at-such one end of said hose and inserted into such one end of said hose, and lthe coupling at the other end of said hose being formed with three tubular nipples, each 'of crosssection complementary with the respective `passages, and inserted into the respective passages of said 'hose to engage the inner Jwall of said hose and to embrace opposite sides of each partition.

I 4. A coupling for iiexiblehose of circular crosssection having partition means dividing such hose into longitudinally extending passages of segmental cross-section, comprising a body formed with a plurality of tubular nipples extending therefrom, said nipples being of segmental crosssection and spaced apart and adapted to be inserted into the passages of such hose to embrace the opposite sides of such partition means.

5. A coupling for flexible hose of circular crosssection having a diametral partition dividing such hose into two longitudinally extending passages each of generally semi-circular cross-section, comprising a body formed with two tubular nipples extending therefrom, each of said nipples being of generally semi-circular cross-section with the chords thereof spaced apart and adapted to embrace such partition upon insertion of said nipples into the passages of such hose.

6. A coupling for flexible hose of circular crosssection having three radial partitions dividing such hose into three longitudinally extending passages, each of generally segmental cross-section, comprising a body formed with three tubular nipples extending therefrom, each of said nipples being of generally segmental cross-section with the radiating sides of adjacent nipples spaced apart to embrace the opposite sides of such partitions upon insertion of said nipples into the passages of such hose.

'7. In combination, a flexible hose formed with partition means dividing said hose into a plurality of longitudinally extending passages, and couplings connected to the ends of said hose, one coupling being formed with a plurality of tubular nipples inserted into the respective hose passages and with separate passages communicating with the respective nipples, and the other coupling also being formed with a plurality of nipples inserted into said hose and defining a chamber common to at least two hose passages and being formed with a single passage leading to such chamber.

8. A iiexible hose and coupling assembly for installation between a paint spray gun and a paint heating device having paint intake and delivery passages, comprising a iiexible hose formed with partition means dividing said hose into a plurality of passages for iiow of paint in oppositerdirections, and couplings connected to the ends of said hose, one coupling being formed with a plurality of tubular nipples inserted into the respective hose passages and with separate passages communicating with the respective nipples for flow of heated paint in one direction from the delivery passage of the heating device through one hose passage and in the opposite direction to the intake passage of vthe heating device through another hose. passagaandthe other coupling also being formed with a plurality of nipples, inserted into said hoseand defining a chamber common to such one and'another hose passages and being formed with a single passage leading from such chamber to the spray gun whereby the heated paint will flow through such one hose passage into such chamber and therefrom to the gun or through such another hose passage according to whether the gun is open or closed. p f y 9. In combination, a iiexible hose formed with partition means dividing said hose into at least three longitudinally extending passages, and couplings connected to the endsof said hose, one coupling being formed with a plurality of nipples inserted into the respective hose passages and with separate passages communicating with the respective nipples, and the other coupling being formed with a. plurality of nipples inserted into said hose and dening a chamber common to two of the hose passages and being formed with a passage communicating with a third one of the hose passages. Y

JAMES A. BEDE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 626,447 Strater June 6, 1899 849,275 Simon Apr. 2, 1907 1,953,701 Clark et al. Apr. 3, 1934 2,210,744 Winder Aug. 6, 1949 2,244,686 Garrison et al. June 10, 1941 2,340,926 Bradley Feb. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 571,066 Great Britain Aug. 3, 1945 

